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EPA Recognizes Staples as One of Nation’s Top Green Power Purchasers

(Boston, Mass. – August 30, 2010) – For the sixth year in a row, Staples, Inc., the worlds’ largest office supply company, based in Framingham, Mass., is being recognized by EPA as one of the top 50 organizations taking voluntary steps to use and purchase green power. Staples purchases more than 146 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet more than 20 percent of the organization’s purchased electricity use. The company is also a member of the Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements.

“Staples is honored to be recognized by EPA in their national Green Power Top 50 list,” said Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs, Staples, Inc. “Using renewable power is a key part of Staples’ company-wide commitment to sustainable business practices.” EPA’s Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program helping to increase the use of green power among U.S. organizations. There are currently hundreds of partners utilizing green power to reduce the environmental impacts from conventional electricity generation, including Fortune 500 companies, local, state and federal governments, trade associations as well as colleges and universities. Each of the award winners are EPA Green Power Partners who must meet or exceed EPA purchase requirements for green power.

The majority of Staples’ green power consists of renewable energy certificates, but they also purchase direct green power through various utility programs. Staples now has twenty-four active solar power systems on distribution centers and retail stores and is investigating future projects involving fuel cells and wind power. Additionally, there are environmentally preferable products and in-store recycling options in its North American stores. An active participant in EPA’s Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge, Staples not only ranks as one of the largest purchasers and Green Power on the National Top 50 list, but also ranks among the Top 10 Retail list of green power purchasers, serving as a great example for other businesses to follow.

Staples’ green power purchase of more than 146 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 16,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 12,000 average American homes every year.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,200 partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Overall, EPA’s green power partners are using more than 17 billion kWh of green power annually, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from electricity use of more than 1.5 million average American homes.